Juventus and Atalanta square off in a high-profile Serie A clash at Allianz Stadium. Both teams are enjoying a fine start to the season and will put their unbeaten records on the line in Saturday's clash.
Juventus are enjoying a fine start to the season, having picked up three wins and a draw from their opening four Serie A matches. Igor Tudor’s men were held to a 1-1 draw at Verona in their previous fixture in the league.
While Juventus are still unbeaten, the draw at Verona highlights a recent problem as they have looked slightly shaky at the back lately. From keeping clean sheets in their opening two matches, the Turin club have now conceded in their last three fixtures in all competitions.
Atalanta are also unbeaten in Serie A this season and claimed a 3-0 victory at Torino last time out. Nikola Krstovic netted a brace while Kamaldeen Sulemana was also on target.
That was the second straight win for Atalanta, who appear to be building some momentum after starting their campaign with two successive draws. However, like the hosts, they also struggle at the back and are without a clean sheet in four of their last five matches in all competitions.
How the bookies view it: Bookies backing Juventus
Juventus have been installed as overwhelming favourites among the bookies, with a home win priced at 4/5 by BoyleSports. A victory for Atalanta is valued at 14/5 while a draw is set at odds of 5/2.
Head to head: Juventus in the lead
Juventus have a 28-5 advantage, with 14 draws in the last 47 matches against Atalanta. However, the visitors were unbeaten last season, holding out for a 1-1 home draw in the first meeting before easing to a 4-0 home victory in the reverse fixture.
Players to watch: Eyes on Vlahovic
Vlahovic is enjoying a fine start to the season and has found the net four times in all competitions so far. The forward is likely to lead the line once again and will be keen to maintain his scoring run (Dusan Vlahovic anytime goalscorer – offered at 7/5 with BoyleSports).
Krstovic has also impressed for Atalanta this season and netted a brace last time out against Torino. The striker could also be worth keeping an eye on to extend his scoring run (Nikola Krstovic anytime goalscorer – valued at 5/2).
Probable line-ups:
Juventus remain without Arkadiusz Milik and Fabio Miretti, who are sidelined with injury. Michele Di Gregorio is expected to continue in goal, with Gleison Bremer and Lloyd Kelly at the back, while Vlahovic should start in attack alongside Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao.
Atalanta have injury concerns, with Isak Hien and Nicola Zalewski joining Giorgio Scalvini, Gianluca Scamacca, Ederson, Sead Kolasinac and Mitchel Bakker on the sidelines. Charles De Ketelaere is also a doubt for this game after missing out last time out, but Martin de Roon, Mario Pasalic, Sulemana and Krstovic are all available to feature.
Juventus: Di Gregorio, Gatti, Bremer, Kelly, Kalulu, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiasso, Yildiz, Conceicao, Vlahovic
Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Djimsiti, De Roon, Kossounou, Zappacosta, Musah, Pasalic, Bellanova, Sulemana, Samardzic, Krstovic
Anything else catch the eye?
Juventus have scored first in all four of their Serie A matches (Juventus to score first – available at 4/6 with BoyleSports). Both teams have scored in three of the last five meetings (BTTS YES – valued at 4/5).
Atalanta’s last three matches have produced over 2.5 goals (Over 2.5 goals – set at odds of 20/21).
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